Spartans top Yellow Jackets, 3-0

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Defiance College women's soccer team traveled across the border to Indiana to meet Manchester University for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference showdown, but fell to the Spartans, 3-0.

DC (2-10, 0-2 HCAC) went to work early.  The away squad was awarded two corner kicks inside the first five minutes to keep the pressure on Manchester.  The spartans was able to clear it out both times before the Yellow Jackets could get a shot.  The Spartans were able to take the first shot on goal at the eight minute mark, which June Delgreco (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Crestwood) put a stop to.

Things quieted down for a little more than ten minutes before Delgreco was really put to work in goal.  During the 19th minute of play, Manchester was able to let go of three shots that were heading for goal.  Delgreco faced each shot head on and kept the score tied at 0-0.  The DC offense rewarded Delgreco's great goal play with a little threat of its own.  Kassie Memmer (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green) took a shot for the Yellow Jackets to keep the MU defense honest.

Following another Delgreco save, DC took it the length of the field again during the 23rd minute.  This time Erica Islas (Lockhart, Texas/Lockhart) took a shot that was heading toward goal before the Manchester goalie made a play.  The offense kept the pressure up during the latter part of the first half.  Jill Crowell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Plainwell), Lindsay Bubnick (Vandalia/Butler), and Maegan Redick (Lima, Ohio / Shawnee) all took shots on goal for the Yellow Jackets to keep the Spartans back on their heels.  Neither team could break through for a goal in the first half, staying tied at zero at intermission.  Delgreco had seven saves in the first 45 minutes.

The DC offense kept the pressure on early in the second half.  Bubnick took another shot on goal seven minutes after intermission that forced the Manchester GK to make another save.  Manchester was able to turn the save into offense about four minutes later when the Spartans finally broke through to take the 1-0 lead.  Things got a little worse for the Yellow Jackets seven minutes later when Manchester added another goal for a little breathing room.  MU led 2-0 at the 62:38 mark.

DC would not back down, taking three more shots in the next four minutes including a Chelsie Moyer (Tipp City, Ohio / Tippecanoe) shot that hit off the crossbar.  Manchester would add another goal during the 85th minute to put the game out of reach 3-0.  Taylor Lantz (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) added one more shot on goal for DC during the 89th minute of play.

Delgreco ended the game with 11 saves.  Bubnick led the Yellow Jackets with shots and shots on goal with four and two.

The Yellow Jackets will next travel to Franklin, Ind. for a conference game against Franklin University on Saturday, Oct. 11.  The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.